Fashion Designer Bella Freud Put Her Magic Touch on This New London Penthouse

At the top floor of the former BBC Television Centre in West London—a circular, Mid-century Modern building—Bella Freud has made her mark. The British fashion designer, daughter of Lucien Freud, and great-granddaughter of Sigmund Freud has accented her space with printed pillows and artwork printed with the same hand-scrawled typography that decorates her playful, popular knitwear. Her keen design eye is evident in the red wall of a bedroom and the emerald green carpet on the living room floor. This is not actually Freud’s own home, but rather one that she helped decorate along with her friend, the co-founder of Retrouvius design studio and salvage shop Maria Speake.

Together, they’ve outfitted the penthouse apartment inside one of the city’s most exciting new developments, called The Helios. Though it’s not the first time they’ve worked together (Speake helped Freud decorate her own abode as well as her flagship store, this was certainly a unique opportunity for both of them. “This time, we explored what my fantasy home would look like,” Freud says. “The Television Centre is an iconic part of West London’s history, which has always been intertwined with my own life.”

The penthouse certainly nods to Freud’s signature eclecticism and her love for 1970s glamour. She and Speake incorporated vintage furniture with special edition Rug Company rugs inspired by Freud’s designs. Alongside touches of brass and raffia, they used artwork from photographer Lorena Lohr, cheeky plates by Eliza Hopewell, and op-art prints by Jacob Wolff.

“The overall aesthetic idea was to create a look and feel that was elegant and calm, sexy and spacious,” Speake explains. “Whenever Bella and I make a decision about a room, our conversations tend to be about how wonderful a certain color is, or about a beautiful piece of artwork, rather than focusing on the functional elements.” And while interior design of a home space might be a slight departure for Freud, she says that she “likes the idea that I can fashion into different worlds.”

“The nice thing about designing an apartment is that you can see how someone might add to it. We’ve been fantasizing about what the next project might be—a hotel, perhaps?” Here’s hoping.

Above, go inside London’s coolest new living space designed by Bella Freud and Maria Speake.